Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
 33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have used gene array technology to chart changes in gene expression during differentiation of the mouse calvarial-derived MC3T3-E1 cell line to an osteoblast-like phenotype. Expression was analyzed on a mouse gene array panel of 588 cDNAs representing tightly regulated genes with key roles in various biological processes. When compared with NIH3T3 fibroblasts, MC3T3-E1 cells showed generally higher expression of cyclins and Bcl-2 family members, as well as specific expression of products such as the CD44 antigen, which is consistent with their calvarial origin. MC3T3-E1 cells also showed a surprisingly high level of p53. Differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells involves withdrawal from the cell cycle by day 7, accompanied by matrix accumulation and, ultimately, mineralization. Gene expression patterns in induced MC3T3-E1 cells generally reflected these stages. Cyclins were sharply down-regulated, and expression of certain antiproliferative factors and tissue-restricted genes was induced. Many of the observed changes, such as the induction of follistatin, bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1A, transforming growth factor beta, and matrix remodeling factors, reflect expected patterns and support the physiological relevance of the results. Other observed changes were not anticipated and offer new insight into the osteoblast differentiation process. An example is the sharp induction of the Tob antiproliferative factor, which has previously been associated specifically with terminal differentiation in muscles. Another example is the induction of the DNA damage-associated proteins EI24 and Gadd45, apparently as a normal aspect of osteoblast differentiation. The oxidative stress-induced protein A170 and the transcription factor Nrf2, which regulates metabolic responses to oxidative stress, were also induced. This response may reflect the in vivo requirement for vascularization during bone growth and fracture repair. Other induced factors include tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-1 (1-TRAF), which is a nuclear factor kappaB activator, cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II (CRABP-II), and the transcription factors S-II, SP2, and SEF2 (ITF2/E2:2). SEF2 is the first basic helix-loop-helix protein found to be up-regulated during osteoblast differentiation. Northern blots confirm the induction of SEF2.
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PMID:Gene array analysis of osteoblast differentiation. 1124 67

The Hsc/Hsp70 co-chaperones of the BAG (Bcl-2-associated athanogene) protein family are modulators of protein quality control. We examined the specific roles of BAG1 and BAG3 in protein degradation during the aging process. We show that BAG1 and BAG3 regulate proteasomal and macroautophagic pathways, respectively, for the degradation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Moreover, using models of cellular aging, we find that a switch from BAG1 to BAG3 determines that aged cells use more intensively the macroautophagic system for turnover of polyubiquitinated proteins. This increased macroautophagic flux is regulated by BAG3 in concert with the ubiquitin-binding protein p62/SQSTM1. The BAG3/BAG1 ratio is also elevated in neurons during aging of the rodent brain, where, consistent with a higher macroautophagy activity, we find increased levels of the autophagosomal marker LC3-II as well as a higher cathepsin activity. We conclude that the BAG3-mediated recruitment of the macroautophagy pathway is an important adaptation of the protein quality control system to maintain protein homeostasis in the presence of an enhanced pro-oxidant and aggregation-prone milieu characteristic of aging.
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PMID:Protein quality control during aging involves recruitment of the macroautophagy pathway by BAG3. 1922 98

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most promising seed cells for cell therapy and tissue engineering, which can be isolated from various sources of human adult tissues such as bone marrow and adipose tissue. However, cells from these tissues must be obtained through invasive procedures and sometimes the individual difference is hard to control. Hence, the search continues for an ethically conducive, easily accessible and controllable source of stem cells. We herein report the isolation of a population of stem cells from the human placental decidua basalis (termed as PDB-MSCs), a maternal portion of placenta. PDB-MSCs were further shown to express markers common to MSCs and positive for SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 and Oct-4. In order to facilitate the further utility in ischemic diseases, we tested the apoptosis of PDB-MSCs in hypoxia and serum deprivation, two components of ischemia in vivo. Taken together, our findings indicate that PDB-MSCs are resistant to hypoxia and serum deprivation, which may relate to Bcl-2.
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PMID:Isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from human placental decidua basalis and resistance to hypoxia and serum deprivation. 1959 Sep 88

The short isoform of single-minded 2 (SIM2s), a basic helix-loop-helix/PAS (bHLH/PAS) transcription factor, is upregulated in pancreatic and prostate tumours; however, a mechanistic role for SIM2s in these cancers is unknown. Microarray studies in prostate DU145 cells identified the pro-cell death gene, BNIP3 (Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3), as a novel putative target of SIM2s repression. Further validation showed BNIP3 repression in several prostate and pancreatic carcinoma-derived cell lines with ectopic expression of human SIM2s. BNIP3 levels are enhanced in prostate carcinoma cells upon short interfering (si)RNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous SIM2s. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter studies show that SIM2s represses BNIP3 through its activities at the proximal promoter hypoxia response element (HRE), the site through which the bHLH/PAS family member, hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha), induces BNIP3. SIM2s attenuates BNIP3 hypoxic induction via the HRE, and increased hypoxic induction of BNIP3 occurs with siRNA knockdown of endogenous SIM2s in prostate PC3AR+ cells. BNIP3 is implicated in hypoxia-induced cell death processes. Prolonged treatment of PC3AR+ cells with hypoxia mimetics, DP and DMOG, confers hypoxia-induced autophagy, measured by enhanced LC3-II levels and SQSTM1/p62 turnover. We show that PC3AR+ cells expressing ectopic SIM2s have enhanced survival in these conditions. Induction of LC3-II and turnover of SQSTM1/p62 are attenuated in PC3AR+/SIM2s DMOG and hypoxia-treated cells, suggesting that SIM2s may attenuate autophagic cell death processes, perhaps through BNIP3 repression. These data show, for the first time, SIM2s cross-talk on an endogenous HRE. SIM2s' functional interference with HIF1alpha activities on BNIP3 may indicate a novel role for SIM2s in promoting tumourigenesis.
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PMID:The HIF1alpha-inducible pro-cell death gene BNIP3 is a novel target of SIM2s repression through cross-talk on the hypoxia response element. 1966 30

Helix-helix interactions are important for the structure, stability and function of alpha-helical proteins. Helices that either cross in the middle or show extensive contacts between each other, such as coiled coils, have been investigated in previous studies. Interactions between two helices can also occur only at the terminal regions or between the terminal region of one helix and the middle region of another helix. Examples of such helix pairs are found in aquaporin, H(+)/Cl(-) transporter and Bcl-2 proteins. The frequency of the occurrence of such ;end-to-end' (EE) and ;end-to-middle' (EM) helix pairs in protein structures is not known. Questions regarding the residue preferences in the interface and the mode of interhelical interactions in such helix pairs also remain unanswered. In this study, high-resolution structures of all-alpha proteins from the PDB have been systematically analyzed and the helix pairs that interact only in EE or EM fashion have been extracted. EE and EM helix pairs have been categorized into five classes (N-N, N-C, C-C, N-MID and C-MID) depending on the region of interaction. Nearly 13% of 5725 helix pairs belonged to one of the five classes. Analysis of single-residue propensities indicated that hydrophobic and polar residues prefer to occur in the C-terminal and N-terminal regions, respectively. Hydrophobic C-terminal interacting residues and polar N-terminal interacting residues are also highly conserved. A strong correlation exists between some of the residue properties (surface area/volume and length of side chains) and their preferences for occurring in the interface of EE and EM helix pairs. In contrast to interacting non-EE/EM helix pairs, helices in EE and EM pairs are farther apart. In these helix pairs, residues with large surface area/volume and longer side chains are preferred in the interfacial region.
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PMID:End-to-end and end-to-middle interhelical interactions: new classes of interacting helix pairs in protein structures. 1977 May

Apoptosis and autophagy have been shown to be negatively regulated by prosurvival Bcl-2 proteins. We determined whether the anticancer agent celecoxib, alone or combined with a small molecule Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) antagonist (ABT-737), can induce autophagy in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we determined whether inhibition of autophagy can drive colon cancer cells into apoptosis. Celecoxib was shown to induce apoptosis that was attenuated by ectopic Bcl-2 or Bax knockout. ABT-737 synergistically enhanced celecoxib-induced cytotoxicity that was primarily due to apoptosis as shown by caspase cleavage and Annexin V labeling that was attenuated by a pan caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk). Celecoxib triggered conversion of the autophagosome-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) from a cytosolic (LC3I) to a membrane-bound (LC3II) form, as shown by immunoblotting and a punctate fluorescence pattern of an ectopic GFP-LC3 protein. Celecoxib-induced conversion of LC3 was due to autophagy induction, as supported using the lysosome inhibitor, bafilomycin A1, which produced an accumulation of LC3II. ABT-737 enhanced celecoxib-induced LC3 conversion and p62/SQSTM1 degradation. Inhibition of autophagy was then studied in an effort to drive cells into apoptosis. 3-methyladenine (3-MA) blocked LC3 conversion, and 3-MA and wortmannin significantly enhanced apoptotic signaling in cells treated with celecoxib plus ABT-737. Furthermore, knockdown of Atg8/LC3B or Vps34 using siRNA attenuated p62 degradation and enhanced apoptotic signaling; Vps34 siRNA potentiated annexin V(+), PI(-) labeled cells induced by celecoxib + ABT-737. In conclusion, celecoxib induces apoptosis and autophagy that can both be potentiated by ABT-737. Inhibition of autophagy was shown to enhance apoptosis, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy against colon cancer.
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PMID:Celecoxib-induced apoptosis is enhanced by ABT-737 and by inhibition of autophagy in human colorectal cancer cells. 2010 24

Previous data demonstrate that traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates autophagy, and increases microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) immunostaining mainly in neurons. However, the role of autophagy in traumatic brain damage remains elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the autophagic mechanisms participating in traumatic brain injury. The autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and bafliomycin A1 (BFA) were administered with a single i.c.v. injection before TBI. We first examined the protein levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 II, which have been found to promote autophagy previously. Immunoblotting analysis showed that 3-MA pretreatment reduced post-TBI Beclin-1 and LC3-II levels, and maintained p62/SQSTM1 (p62) levels. In addition, double immunolabeling showed that the increased punctate LC3-II dots colocalizing with Propidium Iodide (PI)-stained nuclei at 24 h after injury, were partially inhibited by 3-MA pretreatment. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy could reduce TBI-induced cell injury assessed with i.p. injection of PI and lesion volume, and attenuate behavioral outcome evaluated by motor test and Morris water maze. The neuroprotective effects were associated with an inhibition on TBI-induced up-regulation of LC3, Beclin-1, cathepsin B, caspase-3 and the Beclin-1/Bcl-2 ratio. Taken together, these data imply that the autophagy pathway is involved in the pathophysiologic responses after TBI, and inhibition of this pathway may help attenuate traumatic damage and functional outcome deficits.
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PMID:Autophagy is involved in traumatic brain injury-induced cell death and contributes to functional outcome deficits in mice. 2146 64

There is a reciprocal change in the expression of two members of the BAG (Bcl-2-associated athanogen) family, BAG1 and BAG3, during cellular aging and under acute stress ("BAG1-BAG3-switch"). BAG3 was recently described as a mediator of a novel macroautophagy pathway that uses the specificity of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) to misfolded proteins and also involves other protein partners, such as HSPB8. Also crucial for induction and execution of autophagy are sequestosome-1/p62 (SQSTM1/p62) and LC3, an autophagosome-associated protein. In this novel pathway, BAG3 mediates the targeting and transport of degradation-prone substrates into aggresomes via the microtubule-motor dynein. Interestingly, aggresome-targeting by BAG3 does not depend on substrate ubiquitination and is, therefore, involved in the clearance of misfolded proteins that are not ubiquitinated.
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PMID:BAG3 and friends: co-chaperones in selective autophagy during aging and disease. 2168 Oct 22

Chemoresistance has become a major obstacle to the successful treatment of leukemia. Autophagy, a regulated process of degradation and recycling of cellular constituents, has recently caught increasing attention for its roles in conferring resistance to various commonly used anticancer therapies. Here we showed that the member of the S100 calcium-binding protein family, S100A8, is a critical regulator of chemoresistance in the autophagy process. It positively correlated with the clinical status in childhood acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and it was released from leukemia cells after chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity. Knockdown of S100A8 expression increased the sensitivity of leukemia cells to chemotherapy and apoptosis. Moreover, suppressing S100A8 expression decreased autophagy as evaluated by the increased expression of the autophagic marker microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II, degradation of SQSTM1/Sequestosome 1 (p62) and formation of autophagosomes. Furthermore, stimuli that enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoted cytosolic translocation of S100A8 and thereby enhanced autophagy. S100A8 directly interacted with the autophagy protein Beclin1 displacing Bcl-2. These results suggest that S100A8 is a critical pro-autophagic protein that enhances cell survival and regulates chemoresistance in leukemia cells likely through disassociating the Beclin1-Bcl-2 complex.
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PMID:S100A8-targeting siRNA enhances arsenic trioxide-induced myeloid leukemia cell death by down-regulating autophagy. 2197 85

Autophagy is a tightly regulated mechanism that mediates sequestration, degradation, and recycling of cellular proteins, organelles, and pathogens. Several proteins associated with autophagy regulate host responses to viral infections. Ribonuclease L (RNase L) is activated during viral infections and cleaves cellular and viral single-stranded RNAs, including rRNAs in ribosomes. Here we demonstrate that direct activation of RNase L coordinates the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) to induce autophagy with hallmarks as accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, p62(SQSTM1) degradation and conversion of Microtubule-associated Protein Light Chain 3-I (LC3-I) to LC3-II. Accordingly, treatment of cells with pharmacological inhibitors of JNK or PKR and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking JNK1/2 or PKR showed reduced autophagy levels. Furthermore, RNase L-induced JNK activity promoted Bcl-2 phosphorylation, disrupted the Beclin1-Bcl-2 complex and stimulated autophagy. Viral infection with Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) or Sendai virus led to higher levels of autophagy in wild-type (WT) MEFs compared with RNase L knock out (KO) MEFs. Inhibition of RNase L-induced autophagy using Bafilomycin A1 or 3-methyladenine suppressed viral growth in initial stages; in later stages autophagy promoted viral replication dampening the antiviral effect. Induction of autophagy by activated RNase L is independent of the paracrine effects of interferon (IFN). Our findings suggest a novel role of RNase L in inducing autophagy affecting the outcomes of viral pathogenesis.
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PMID:RNase L induces autophagy via c-Jun N-terminal kinase and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase signaling pathways. 2310 42


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